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Leaders in Legal Business
Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity — provides the framework to effectively utilize and coordinate
ABA diversity resources and supports Goal III, which helps the ABA maintain racial and ethnic diversity
as a priority.21
Commission on Women in the Profession — the national voice for women lawyers, which also ensures
equal opportunity for professional growth and advancement.22
Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) — seeks to secure equal treatment in the
ABA, the legal profession, and the justice system without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.23
ABA Staff Diversity Council — works to promote full participation in the Association by all staff
persons.24
In order to ensure equal justice for all, the American Bar Association must lead the way in making the
justice system a more accurate reflection of our society. As the ABA states, “[t]he ABA Diversity Center is the
‘umbrella’ entity for the four major groups within the ABA that address racial and ethnic diversity issues. As the
preeminent legal association in the world, the ABA is in a unique position to help develop the parameters and
goals for increasing diversity within the profession and serve as a guiding force in program development and
innovation.”25 Within the Center are four main entities: the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the
Profession; the Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice; the Council for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the
Educational Pipeline; and the Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities.26 These entities work
together to address the multifaceted issue of diversity in the legal system, bringing the subjects of race and
ethnicity to the forefront.
The ABA Council on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline (Pipeline Council) works
to increase the number of diverse students who are on track to becoming lawyers.27 The ABA also offers Legal
Opportunity Scholarships to diverse law students, providing $15,000 of financial assistance over the course of
their law school career.28 Former ABA President William G. Paul started the scholarship fund in order to
encourage racially and ethnically diverse students to attend law school. As Paul said: “We can best serve society
if members of the legal profession come from all segments of the population, reflecting the diversity of the United
States — and financial aid during law school must be a vital component of any effort to increase diversity in the
profession.”29 The first students received Scholarship awards during the 2000-2001 academic year. Since the
program was created, 300 students from across the country (at 20 students a year for 15 years) have received an
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship. These exceptional Scholarship recipients have overcome adversity and gone
on to practice at some of the most prestigious firms and organizations across the country. The Scholarship program
is very important not only to the future of the Association, but also to the legal profession as a whole.
21 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSION,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/racial_ethnic_diversity/LegalProfession.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
22 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON WOMEN IN THE PROFESSION, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/women.html (last visited
February 5, 2015).
23 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/sexual_orientation.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
24 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, STAFF DIVERSITY COUNCIL, http://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/aba-staff-diversity-council.html (last visited
February 5, 2015).
25 Supra note 21.
26 Id.
27 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL FOR RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
28 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LEGAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
29 Id.
108
Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity — provides the framework to effectively utilize and coordinate
ABA diversity resources and supports Goal III, which helps the ABA maintain racial and ethnic diversity
as a priority.21
Commission on Women in the Profession — the national voice for women lawyers, which also ensures
equal opportunity for professional growth and advancement.22
Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) — seeks to secure equal treatment in the
ABA, the legal profession, and the justice system without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.23
ABA Staff Diversity Council — works to promote full participation in the Association by all staff
persons.24
In order to ensure equal justice for all, the American Bar Association must lead the way in making the
justice system a more accurate reflection of our society. As the ABA states, “[t]he ABA Diversity Center is the
‘umbrella’ entity for the four major groups within the ABA that address racial and ethnic diversity issues. As the
preeminent legal association in the world, the ABA is in a unique position to help develop the parameters and
goals for increasing diversity within the profession and serve as a guiding force in program development and
innovation.”25 Within the Center are four main entities: the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the
Profession; the Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice; the Council for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the
Educational Pipeline; and the Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities.26 These entities work
together to address the multifaceted issue of diversity in the legal system, bringing the subjects of race and
ethnicity to the forefront.
The ABA Council on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline (Pipeline Council) works
to increase the number of diverse students who are on track to becoming lawyers.27 The ABA also offers Legal
Opportunity Scholarships to diverse law students, providing $15,000 of financial assistance over the course of
their law school career.28 Former ABA President William G. Paul started the scholarship fund in order to
encourage racially and ethnically diverse students to attend law school. As Paul said: “We can best serve society
if members of the legal profession come from all segments of the population, reflecting the diversity of the United
States — and financial aid during law school must be a vital component of any effort to increase diversity in the
profession.”29 The first students received Scholarship awards during the 2000-2001 academic year. Since the
program was created, 300 students from across the country (at 20 students a year for 15 years) have received an
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship. These exceptional Scholarship recipients have overcome adversity and gone
on to practice at some of the most prestigious firms and organizations across the country. The Scholarship program
is very important not only to the future of the Association, but also to the legal profession as a whole.
21 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSION,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/racial_ethnic_diversity/LegalProfession.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
22 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON WOMEN IN THE PROFESSION, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/women.html (last visited
February 5, 2015).
23 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/sexual_orientation.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
24 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, STAFF DIVERSITY COUNCIL, http://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/aba-staff-diversity-council.html (last visited
February 5, 2015).
25 Supra note 21.
26 Id.
27 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL FOR RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
28 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LEGAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html (last visited February 5, 2015).
29 Id.
108
